Prefabricated building structures

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an improved method of assembling prefabricated building structures, and is particularly applicable to structures where the wall panels are prefinished, i.e. where all services such as electricity and plumbing are built in. In the prefabricated building structure according to the invention there is provided a roof section and a floor section, a series of vertically arranged wall forming panel sections held fixedly in edge-to-edge relation by generally U-shaped clamp means extending from one panel section to another, and having portions thereof embedded within slots formed in the panel sections. The panel sections are connected with a plurality of corner posts by intermediate structural elements each of which is attached to, and extends substantially the height of a post, each element having on a face abutting a post, a plurality of vertically spaced apart transversely extending slots arranged in horizontal alignment with the slots formed in the panel sections. The panel sections are then attached to the member by a plurality of clamps extending into slots in the member and the panel section.

llnited States Patent 41 1 Foulanger m1 3332mm June 12, 1973 [54]PREFABRICATED BUILDING STRUCTURES [76] Inventor: Laureat A. Boulanger,PO. Box

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 7, 1972 Canada ..l34,085

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1905 Ducker 52/282 6/1915Greer 52/92 Primary.ExaminerJohn E. Murtagh Att0rneyE. F. Wenderoth,Eric L. Medcalf, Russel S Smart et al [57] ABSTRACT The inventionrelates to an improved method of assembling prefabricated buildingstructures, and is particularly applicable to structures where the wallpanels are prefinished, i.e. where all services such as electricity andplumbing are built in. In the prefabricated building structure accordingto the invention there is provided a roof section and a floor section, aseries of vertically arranged wall forming panel sections held fixedlyin edge-to-edge relation by generally U-shaped clamp means extendingfrom one panel section to another, and having portions thereof embeddedwithin slots formed in'the panel sections. The panel sections areconnected with a plurality of corner posts by intermediate structuralelements each of which is attached to, and extends substantially theheight of a post, each element having on a face abutting a post, aplurality of vertically spaced apart transversely extending slotsarranged in horizontal alignment with the slots formed in the panelsections. The panel sections are then attached to the member by aplurality of clamps extending into slots in the member and the panelsection.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIED JUN I 2 I975 SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG. I

PATENIEUJUWI975 I I 3.738.013

sum 2 0r 2 FIG. 2

PREFABRICATED BUILDING STRUCTURES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Theinvention relates to an improved method of assembling prefabricatedbuilding structures, and is particularly applicable to structures wherethe wall panels are prefinished, i.e., where are services such aselectricity and plumbing are built in.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Prefabricated buildings, and method ofassembling same, have been known for a number of years. In suchconstructions, basic building sections, partly finished by themanufacture, were transported to the building site for final assembly,the plumbing and electrical systems being completed after erection. Withsuch systems, constructional costs were high, due to the requirement ofskilled labor for final assembly and fitting, and once erected, thestructures were considered permanent and could not be easilydisassembled and reerected on another site, as required under certaincircumstances.

In another known method, a modular system was evolved, each module beingcompletely assembled at the manufacturing establishment, thentransported to the site with other modules. The building being completedby simply coupling the modules together. Once again, manufacturing costswere extremely high, and skilled labor was required on site to assemblethese modules.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an attempt to overcome these problemsprefinished panel sections were developed which have all services builtin. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of assemblingthe interior and exterior walls of prefabricated buildings, utilizingsuch prefabricated panel sections which method comprises the steps ofproviding a number of corner posts, affixing to each individual post atleast one intermediate structural member which extends substantially theheight of the post and has, on a face abutting the posts, a number ofvertically spaced apart, transversely extending slots, providing anumber of wall forming panel sections having slots formed therein andfastening by means of a number of generally U-shaped clamps at least oneof the wall forming sections to the structural member, utilizing each ofthe slots in the member to accommodate one limb of a clamp, the otherlimb of the clamp being inserted into a mating slot provided in the wallforming section, and assembling the remaining wall forming sections inedge-to-edge relation, by means of additional clamps similar to thefirst mentioned clamps, and complementary slots in the sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A method of assembly according to thepresent in vention will now be described by way of example only withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in partial section, a corner of a building and adjoiningside walls assembled in accordance with the method of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the intermediate element which when affixed to the cornerpost serves as a starter plate for assembling the wall sections; and

FIG. 3 shows a typical clamp used during assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of thedrawings, there is shown the method of attaching a prefabricated panelto a corner post, and the attaching of two panels, in accordance withthe invention.

The basic structural elements of the prefabricated structure shown inFIG. 1 are enumerated as follows: the comer post is given numeral 10,and the panels or wall forming members, indicated generally at H. Thesepanels are made up principally of a top plate 12 interior facing sheet,13, and external facing sheet 14, fastened to an internal frame workcomprising stud l7 and sole 19. In FIG. 1 the subfloor sheathing isgiven numeral 20, a joist header numeral 21, and the sill numeral 22.Finally, a starter plate 15, of the type shown in FIG. 2, can be seenpositioned between the internal frame work of the panel 11 and thecorner post 10. As indicated, the panel is fastened to the starter plate15 by a generally U-shaped clip 16 (FIG. 3).

It is to be understood that roof and floor sections (not shown) ofconventional design can be utilized with the prefabricated structureaccording to the invention. It will be further understood that whilstonly the assembling of an exterior wall structure will be describedhereafter, the method of assembly is equally applicable to theassembling of interior wall structures.

In the method of assembly according to the invention, a starter plate,or intermediate structure member 15 (FIG. 2) is provided which comprisesa backing member 23 and facing member 24, the facing member havingformed therein a plurality of transversely extending slots 25.

Assuming the corner posts 10 of a building have been erected, starterplates 15 are fastened to the faces of the corner posts from which theexterior panels will ra diate. The starter plates 15 are affixed to thecorner post so that the slotted face 24 abuts the appropriate side ofthe corner post 10.

The method of assembly is primarily directed to the utilization ofprefinished panels. The term prefinished panels, is to be understood toapply to standard size panels received from the manufacturer completelyassembled in sections which include prefitted, and prehung doors andwindows, the panel surfaces also being prefinished on the exterior andinterior, and all services e.g. electricity and plumbing built in.

Internal studs 17 of panels 11 are also slotted on their inside panelfacing edge 26, at predetermined positions corresponding to thepreviously mentioned slots 25 in starter plate 15. When a panel 11 isbrought into abutting relationship with starter plate 15, U-clips 16 canbe inserted through holes, cut for example from exterior panel facingsheet 14. The slots 25 provided in starter plate 15 accommodate one limb27 of each clamp, the other limb 28 being inserted into the mating slotprovided in the panel facing edge 26 of stud 17. These clamps can thenbe nailed or screwed to hold the panel rigidly against starter plate 15and thus to the corner post structure.

Likewise, as can be seen from FIG. 1, when two panels are connected toform a wall, their abutting studs being slotted, can be joined togetherby the generally U-shaped clamps as before. Finally, in order to coverthe holes formed in the panel facing sheets, battens 18 are provided,which can be attached by any suitable means to the wall formingsections.

With this method of assembly, it will be seen that by providing the wallforming panel sections in convenient sizes, they are easy to transportand can be assembled without the need for skilled labor.

Due to standardization of the panels, the purchaser can design his ownhome whether it be a house, garage, cottage, etc., and by utilizing thismethod of assembly, the structure can be easily dismantled andreassembled on a different site, thus making its use by constructioncamps or mining camps highly advantageous.

As indicated, the assembling of the interior panels can be carried outin a similar manner, and once again these interior panels can besupplied prefinished with all electrical, plumbing, and heating fixturesinstalled. It will also be appreciated that the interior panels can beeasily rearranged, and this would be of advantage in a house where forexample, an additional bedroom was required. Externally, additionalstructures such as car ports, porches and garages can also be quicklyassembled by the method disclosed herein.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A method of assembling the interior and exterior walls ofprefabricated buildings, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a plurality of comer posts,

b. affixing to each individual post at least one intermediate structuralmember which extends substantially the height of said post and has, on aface thereof abutting said post, a plurality of vertically spaced apart,transversely extending slots,

c. providing a plurality of wall forming panel sections having slotsformed therein,

(1. fastening, by means of a plurality of generally U- shaped clampmeans, one of said sections to said structural member, utilizing each ofsaid slots in said member to accommodate one limb of said clamp means,the other limb of each said clamp means being inserted into a matingslot provided in said section, and

e. assembling the remaining wall forming panel sections in edge-to-edgerelation, by means of additional clamp means similar to the firstmentioned clamp means and complementary slots in said sections.

2. In a prefabricated building structure including a roof section and afloor section, a series of vertically arranged wall forming panelsections held fixedly in edgeto-edge relation by generally U-shapedclamp means extending from one panel section to another and havingportions thereof embedded within slots formed in said panel sections,said panel sections being connected with a plurality of corner posts byintermediate structural elements each of which is attached to, andextends the height of a said post, each said element having on a faceabutting a said post, a plurality of vertically spaced aparttransversely extending slots arranged in horizontal alignment with saidslots formed in said panel sections, a said panel section being attachedto said member by a plurality of said clamp means extending into slotsin said member and said panel section.

1. A method of assembling the interior and exterior walls ofprefabricated buildings, comprising the steps of: a. providing aplurality of corner posts, b. affixing to each individual post at leastone intermediate structural member which extends substantially theheight of said post and has, on a face thereof abutting said post, aplurality of vertically spaced apart, transversely extending slots, c.providing a plurality of wall forming panel sections having slots formedtherein, d. fastening, by means of a plurality of generally U-shapedclamp means, one of said sections to said structural member, utilizingeach of said slots in said member to accommodate one limb of said clampmeans, the other limb of each said clamp means being inserted into amating slot provided in said section, and e. assembling the remainingwall forming panel sections in edgeto-edge relation, by means ofadditional clamp means similar to the first mentioned clamp means andcomplementary slots in said sections.
 2. In a prefabricated buildingstructure including a roof section and a floor section, a series ofvertically arranged wall forming panel sections held fixedly inedge-to-edge relation by generally U-shaped clamp means extending fromone panel section to another and having portions thereof embedded withinslots formed in said panel sections, said panel sections being connectedwith a plurality of corner posts by intermediate structural elementseach of which is attached to, and extends the height of a said post,each said element having on a face abutting a said post, a plurality ofvertically spaced apart transversely extending slots arranged inhorizontal alignment with said slots formed in said panel sections, asaid panel section being attached to said member by a plurality of saidclamp means extending into slots in said member and said panel section.